By Gabbie Burton
Contributing Writer

As a follow-up to the “Hands Off!” protest that occurred in West Chester on April 5 as part of a nationwide unification against the policies of President Donald Trump, non-stop supportive car honking ensued for three hours on April 19 in front of the Historic Chester County Courthouse when two separate protests converged, before more than 1000 attendees. 

The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) Chester County Chapter held their protest to support a “Free Palestine” at the corner of the courthouse on Market Street, while the 50501’s “National Day of Action” group held their protest against the Trump administration in front of the courthouse.

While the two protests were not coordinated or united in cause, the sentiments of one attendee perfectly encapsulated the purpose of both protests: “If we don’t do something, nothing will change.”

For the PSL, what they want to change is capitalism. According to the party website, the PSL believes in combating the “crisis of capitalism,” through a “socialist transformation of society.” Their protest was in conjunction with the ANSWER coalition: Act Now to End War and Racism and focused mainly on Free Palestine and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. The group also emphasized ending other wars and genocides occurring in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as promoting healthcare reform, political reform, workers’ rights and promoting socialism.

50501 is a national grassroots organization that aims to hold 50 protests in 50 states for one united movement against the Trump administrations’ “anti-democratic and illegal actions,” according to their website. Saturday’s protest was a part of a collection of similar demonstrations across the country.

‘Fight aggressively’

Dianne Herrin, former West Chester mayor and Pa. State House Representative, helped organize the 50501 event and was one of five speakers to address the crowd. While each attendee and speaker had their own unique motivations to attend, Herrin explained that tyranny was her main motivator for protesting.

“We have to understand that’s what's going on,” she said. “If we don’t fight aggressively, they will win.”

Although they aim to “fight aggressively,” the 50501 speakers advocated for nonviolent political disruption that includes boycotting, striking and protesting to see the changes they wish to see. Attendees and speakers at the protest, many of whom attended the Hands Off! protest two weeks before in West Chester, shared that they have no intention of slowing down.

“The question is what do we do now?” Herrin asked the crowd, “Fight like hell,” was chanted back in reply.

Other speakers included Jill Laufenberg, Pastor at Church of the Loving Shepherd and local activists Grant Maurer and Tom Buglio.

Maurer shared that his main motivating factor was the “attacks” on the LGBTQ+ community by the administration and further criticized the administration for their stance on gun violence prevention.

“I may sound pessimistic, but I am not,” Maurer said. “Hitler did not last, and this modern movement will not last.”

Although he’s only 24 years old, Maurer is no stranger to political activism, having started his activism when he was in high school at West Chester East, Maurer knows that the work does not stop at protests, and he shared what he wants to see happen next.

“I want to see further action by elected officials to slow down and stop the White House,” he said.

The goal to see further action was shared by many among the crowd, including speaker Sheila Starkey Hahn, a New York immigration attorney who used her time at the microphone to advocate for immigrant rights before criticizing the Trump administration for their “fake support” of American Jews.

Hahn criticized and rejected the administration’s deportation of pro-Palestine activists, support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the killing of over 50,000 Palestinians in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 2023, Hamas attacks as being in the name of supporting Jews. Hahn also cited Vice President JD Vance’s meeting with a far-right party leader in Germany back in February as a further example of her belief that the administration does not truly support the American Jewish community.

“One can both be horrified by the events of Oct. 7 and by the killing of 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza,” Hahn said. “As a Jew myself, I say ‘no thank you’ to this fake support.”

Hahn’s statements provided an overlap with the neighboring PSL protest’s initiatives and were seemingly well received by the large crowd.

Curry Malott, an organizer of the PSL protest and professor at West Chester University, explained the initiatives and goals behind their protest.

Protest against Trump ‘not enough’

“Our main mission is to reach out to people who feel democratic and republican parties are not meeting their interests,” Malott said. “We’re here to send the message that the problem is bigger than Trump, and that both parties are funded by billionaires and corporations. The Democrats are here to channel the energy against Trump back into the Democratic party.”

For the PSL, 50501’s protest against Trump is not enough. Naz, an organizer for MontCo for Palestine, shared that she has faced criticism from members of both parties and feels that neither side is doing what is necessary.

“Every time we try to talk to [Democratic officials], they kick us out, so we’ve never had the freedom of getting our speech out and Trump is doing the same so both parties are complicit,” she said. “This protest is only about Trump. It’s not enough.”

While the PSL side of the protests believe that 50501 is not going far enough, Naz did share that some of the 50501 attendees were asking the PSL activists about their initiatives and showed genuine curiosity for their causes. Regardless of messaging, both protests concluded in a successful, peaceful demonstration that allowed their demands to be heard by the masses. Moving forward, protestors will take with them what they will, inspiration, new friends, changed opinions or the words of Hahn, their fellow activist.

“This is not a partisan moment,” she said. “It is a moral one. Where do you stand?”

To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email [email protected].